Researchers found 'minimal differences' in smoking behaviours between those with cancer and those withoutPhoto by

Not even cancer can be enough to scare smokers off cigarettes, suggests new Canadian research that shows a significant proportion keep smoking after being handed a cancer diagnosis.

Researchers found “minimal differences” in smoking behaviours between those with cancer and those without. One in five Canadians who answered yes in a national health survey when asked, “Do you have cancer,” also reported smoking daily or occasionally, virtually the same as the rest of the population.

In fact, evidence shows smoking blunts the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, meaning lower survival; it worsens the side effects of treatment and increases the likelihood of a second cancer.

“And that’s true whether or not it’s a smoking-related cancer in the first place, or even if it’s not a cancer with a strong relationship to smoking,” said Dr. David Mowat, senior scientific lead for population health at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the study’s senior author.

“We’re not laying blame on anybody,” Mowat said, adding people who have never smoked have difficulty fathoming the pull of addiction.

“I think most of us who are non-smokers, we have our own view of the world. We think, ‘oh, sure, if I was given a diagnosis of cancer, I’d quit on the spot.’

“This is an addiction, and it’s very, very difficult to quit.”

However, elsewhere, smokers are being targeted: In Turkey, smokers who develop lung cancer are no longer eligible for state-funded cancer drugs, according to Turkish press reports. In some parts of England and Wales, smokers are being denied access to such routine surgeries as hip and knee replacements until they stop smoking

However, Mowat and others argue the punitive approach is not only unworkable and discriminatory; it’s a slippery slope. “If we say ‘culpable if you smoke and you’re personally responsible for all of the consequences,’ where does it end? What about eating too much? What about not exercising enough?”

“We’re in the business of trying to help people — not blame them,” Mowat said.

Making social judgments about patients can be seriously problematic, added University of Toronto bioethicist Kerry Bowman. “Where do you draw the line?”

“An addiction is a treatable illness. If you’ve got an illness, you’re going to make judgments about them? It doesn’t make a lot of sense — you need to offer help with the addiction,” Bowman said.

The researchers identified 338,450 cancer patients and 22.5 million people without cancer.

Of the two per cent identified as “current cancer patients”, 20.1 per cent reported smoking, compared to 19.3 per cent in the non-cancer population. The findings show “that a considerable proportion of smokers did not quit when faced with a cancer diagnosis in Canada,” the researchers write.

The survey was a snapshot in time, meaning it’s impossible to know from the data how many had in fact quit after being told they had cancer, how many were trying to quit or how many had quit but relapsed. Other studies have found up to half to two thirds of people quit smoking after being diagnosed with certain cancers.

Depression, lack of access to smoking cessation programs and, paradoxically, the stress of dealing with cancer, are reasons why people might keep smoking, the authors said. As well, while lung cancer patients are more likely to directly link their tumours with smoking — and quit — people with breast, bladder, anal or other cancers might not see the connection, and thus be less motivated.

Historically, doctors themselves have been reluctant to broach the subject, Mowat said.

If you go far back many decades ago, certainly when I was in medical school, the approach was, they have cancer, you don’t want to bother them right now, it’s too late, there’s nothing that can be done and (smoking) is a little comfort they have

“If you go far back many decades ago, certainly when I was in medical school, the approach was, they have cancer, you don’t want to bother them right now, it’s too late, there’s nothing that can be done and (smoking) is a little comfort they have.”

Two men paid $45 for three buckets of rental golf balls at the Golf Centre driving range, which are ...

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.